Flexible mould for confectionery, bread-making and similar, with support and stiffening element of the outer edge

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a flexible mould made of silicone for confectionery, bread-making or similar, particularly suited to the use both in traditional ovens and microwave ovens, consisting of a tray provided, on the upper side, with an edge which estends outwardly, wherein this edge is equipped with a support and stiffening element, preferably consisting of a metallic wire dippen in the silicone or of platic or metallic frame partially co-stamped at sight, or manually inserted into a corresponding seat provided in the edge.  
     This feature considerably improves the handling of the tray, especially when it contains very liquid products, keeping unchanged those flexibility features that make easier to take fragile contents out of the oven and to deform and flatten it in order to store it into a reduced space.  
     Preferrend embodiment of the invention provides for a reinforcing element consisting of a frame ( 10 ) (FIG.  4 ) made of rigid or semi-rigid plastic material, which is inserted into a corresponding seat ( 11 ) made in the flexible edge ( 12 ) of the mould.  
     Preferably the frame ( 10 ) is inserted into a seat provided at the lower surface of the edge.  
     The outer part ( 12 ) of the edge overlaps at least part-of the frame ( 10 ), which is so held in place.

[0001] This invention relates to a flexible mould made of silicone forconfectionery, bread-making or similar, particularly suited to the useboth in traditional ovens and microwave ovens, consisting of a trayprovided, on the upper side, with an edge which estends outwardly,wherein this edge is equipped with a support and stiffening element,preferably consisting of a metallic wire dippen in the silicone or ofplatic or metallic frame partially co-stamped at sight, or manuallyinserted into a corresponding seat provided in the edge.

[0002] This feature considerably improves the handling of the tray,especially when it contains very liquid products, keeping unchangedthose flexibility features that make easier to take fragile contents outof the oven and to deform and flatten it in order to store it into areduced space.

[0003] As it is known, the moulds for confectionery and bread-making arealways made of rigid material, such as for example metal like aluminium,or refractory materials such as ceramic or vitreous material, the latterused in particular in microwave ovens.

[0004] The rigid moulds present several disadvantages, from thedifficulty to take the product out of the mould without breaking it, tounsuitable dimensions when the trays must be stored.

[0005] These disadvantages can be overcome by means of flexible traysmade of fabric of proper fibres coated by a synthetic material such assilicone. But also these trays present several disadvantages due to thedifficulty to duly shape an unstretchable material such as the fabric,to obtain a tray with the required deepness.

[0006] With the moud of this invention is easier to take the product outof the mould, thanks to the elasicity and the flexibility of thematerial and it is likewise possible to store the moulds into a reducedspace, thanks to the deformability of said moulds.

[0007] These known moulds include a duly shaped tray, provided, on theupper side, with an edge, always of silicone, which can extend outwards.

[0008] This edge allows to easily grip the tray and take out theproduct.

[0009] The silicone moulds represent an innovative product which can beperfected.

[0010] It was noted that the considerable flexibility and elasticity ofthe material creates some difficulties when there is the need to handlethe moulds containing a product, especially if such product is veryliquid.

[0011] Under the effect of the weight of the product the mould veryflexible, tends to deform and if it is lifted by the edge, as usual,there is the risk to split part of the product.

[0012] To remove such disadvantage this invention proposes a siliconemould characterised by the fact to provide, near the edge, a support andstiffening element able to give the mould the resistance required tocarry the weight of the product without being deformed, keeping theflexibility features which allow to guarantee other advantages listedabove.

[0013] The mould according to the invention is characterised by theparticular embodiment which improves the handling of the product,increasing its usefulness and practicalness of use.

[0014] This invention will be described in details, by way of examplewithout any limitation thereto, with reference to the attached figures,in which:

[0015]FIG. 1 represents the section of a mould according to theinvention;

[0016]FIG. 2 is the perspective view of the mould of FIG. 1;

[0017]FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views, in section, of further formsof execution of said idea of solution.

[0018] With reference to the attached fugures, 1 indicates, in itswhole, a mould according to the invention, essentially consisting of atray 2 in which the product to be cooked or heated is inserted and thatis provided, on the upper side, with an edge 3 essentially consisting ofa wing projecting outwards.

[0019] Both the tray 2 and the wing 3 are completely made of silicone.

[0020] The silicone is a material able to resist to the temperatures ofthe oven and turned out to be suitable to this aim thanks to itsresistance and flexibility features.

[0021] Peculiarity of the invention is to provide, near the perimetralarea of the edge or wing 3, a support indicated with 4, essentiallyconsisting of a metallic element 5, preferably a metallic wire such assteel the like, dipped into a silicone coating 6.

[0022] The fact of providing the metallic wire dipped into the silicone,allows to use the mould even in a microwave oven.

[0023] The stiffening wire will have such dimensions as to allow themould not to bend under the strain of the content, but such as to allowin any case a sufficient flexibility of the wings 3 and of the entiretray body.

[0024] The material can be steel or, in any case, other suitable plasticmaterial.

[0025] The stiffening element 5 can be directly incorporated into themould during the injection of the silicone material, or, if necessary,it may also be applied afterwards, duly inserted into seat provided inthe silicone.

[0026] Through this solution the mould may be easily handled, grippingit by the edges, even when it contains a liquid product, because theresistance of the support element 5 allows the mould to keep its shapewithout bending under the strain of the content. The siliconeflexibility will always allow to easily take the product out, to pressthe mould and to store it taking up a minimum space.

[0027] A skilled in the art may make changes and different versions thatmust be considered included within the competence of this invention.

[0028] In particular, in lieu of the metallic support element, one canprovide a rigid plastic frame co-stamped with the silicon edge or takingthe place of the latter, and which is applied for example by pressure,to the mould body, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0029] A further preferrend embodiment of the invention provides for areinforcing element consisting of a frame 10 (FIG. 4) made of rigid orsemi-rigid plastic material, which is inserted into a corresponding seat11 made in the flexible edge 12 of the mould.

[0030] Preferably the frame 10 is inserted into a seat provided at thelower surface of the edge.

[0031] The outer part 12 of the edge overlaps at least part-of the frame10, which is so held in place.

1. Flexible mould for confectionery and bread-making, comprising asilicone tray with an outwards projecting edge, characterised by thefact to provide a support element applied to said edge to give the moulda certain resistance, such as to avoid any deformation under the strainof the content.
 2. Flexible mould according to claim 1, charaterised bythe fact that the support is dipped into silicone.
 3. Flexible mouldaccording to claim 2, characterised by the fact that the support elementis dipped into the silicone near the peripheral portion of the edge. 4.Flexible mould according to claim 3, characterised by the fact that saidsupport element is formed by a threadlike metallic element.
 5. Flexiblemould according to claim 1 wherein said support element is formed by aplastic element applied to the tray.
 6. Flexible mould according toclaim 5 wherein said frame is co-stamped with the tray.
 7. Flexiblemould for confectionery and bread-making according to claim 1, whereinsaid frame is inserted into a seat provided in the silicone edge. 8.Flexible mould for confectionery and bread-making according to claim 7,characterized in that said frame is inserted into a seat provided in thelower part of the edge, and wherein the outer part of the edge overlapsat least part of said frame.